Method of and apparatus for washing milk cans or other receptacles



Dec. 1, 1936. l. H. 'KENDJALL 2,062,664 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORWASHING MILK CAN$ OR: OTHER RECEPTACLES Filed Nov. 18 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTQRNEY Dec. ,1, 1936. 1. H. KENDALL 2,052,654 METHOD OFAmi APPARATUS FOR WASHING MILK CANS OR OTHER REC EPTACLES Filed Nov. 181929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a FwiENTgR 077w 1 4a,

ATTORNEY S H. KENDALL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR W A SHING MILK CANS OROTHER RECEPTACLES Dec 1, 1936.

" 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 18, 1929 INVEN OR ATTORNEY Dec. l, 1936KENDALL I 2,062,664

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING MILK CANS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES FiledNov. 18, l929 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS to strike against the innersurface of the wall of a can, and to then spread out ina horizontaldiPatented Dec.

- UNITED STA ES.

APPARATUS FOR WASH- ING' MILK' CANS OR OTHER BECEPTA- f CLES Ira n."Kendall, rotsdam; iv. Y., assignor to- -Genevieve A. KendalL- Potsdam,N. Y.

Application November 1 8.1929, Serial No. s ciaimsf ,J(c i 1 +7)* Myinvention relates to a new and improved I method 'of and apparatusforwashing milk cans or other receptacles.

One of the objects of my invention is to pro rection along said wall ofthe can. Another object of my invention is toprovide a method whereby apair ofvertical planar sheets of water are caused. to move laterally soas to strike the interior wall of the can, said.

sheets then being permitted to spread horizontally. Another object ofmyinvention is to provide a method whereby the can is washed by a'ianeshaped sheet of water, so that the washewatercan freely leave the can.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism whereby'the canor other receptacle 'is turned around its own axis while it is subjectedto the action of a cleansing or drying fluid.

so that the entire inner wall and the entire outer wall of the can arethoroughly washed, dried, for the like. Y Y

- Anotherobiect of my an improved mechanismwhereby thecans are rotated,and are also revolved. I prefer to have each can rotate aboutitsjownaxis more than once, and preferably not less than twice, while itisin each operative-position. By an operative position, I mean theposition in which-the can is being acted upon other manner. I

Another object 01- my invention'is, to provide a mechanism which may beutilized "in connection with the machine shown in my application Ser.No. 249,172, flledinthe U. S.'Patent Oflice on- Jan. 24, 1928, which,has matured into Patent No.f

1,972,711, ranted September 4, 1934.

Other objects of my invention will be set iorth in the followingdescriptionand drawings .which illustrate a preferred embodimentthereof; it

being understood thatthe above general state-Q.

'ment of the .invention'.

inventionis to provide by water, steam,'air, or -in F.

mentor inventionis intended to generally ex- I 1 plain the sameand notto limit it in any manner.

Fig. l is a diagraminaticside elevation partially in section. This is asection on the line l'-l of Fig. 2.

r -T N orrics i 5 Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic horizontal sectional 1 Fig. 3is a detail top view,of the primary drive whereby the cans-are rotatedand .revolved.

Fig. 41s a detail view of a washing head.

Fig. 5 isa detail-view of a can support.

Fig. .6 is a detail view showing the respective .parts of a washinghead. V

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing another embodi d Fig. 8 is a sectionalview on theline H of I F Fig. 9 is a'view similar to Fig. 8 showing theoperation of the ejector device; o I Y pipes 32. This casing isprovided'with an open Portion. 0 at which the attendant stands in order.to insert and to .remove cans from the device. Said pipes 32 areprovided with horizontal holes 25 by suitablyidrilling the same,. andthese drill holes also extendthrough the wall W 01' the I casing. Theouter holes are closed by means of plugs 34. Four of these out'er pipes32 are shown. The first of these pipes can be supplied with so rinsewater, the second oi. these pipes can be supplied with hot wash water,the third or these pipes can be suppliedwith hot clean rinsing water,and the fourth of these pipes-can be supplied n [The complete machinecomprises a casing hav- 20 ing a wall W, which is provided with exteriorwith steam. I have not shownthe details of'the connections for supplyingthe various fluids to these pipes 32 as 'these'are shown in machinesalready on themarket and well known to the trade. Likewise, it is to beunderstood that the machine is assumed to turn'in the clockwise direc-40 tion. 'TheJpipes or nozzles communicating the interiors of the cansare also-supplied'with, rinse water, with hot washwater, and with hot.clean rinsing water, when the cans -are respectively adjacent the firstthree of these pipes 32.

- The'interior oi the receptacle to bewashedcan "also be supplied withsteam when the can is adjacent the fourth-or last pipe 32; 'l'heinsideof each can is also treated with hot air through I the pipe H, before itis' movedto the, position in go' .whichit is removed by the attendant.

A valve body- 2 is mounted upon a shaft I which is supported on ananti-friction bearing B. The

turnabie valve body 2 is provided with radial pipes eommunicatins withopenings'in said as.

I valve body 2. The valve plug on which the said valve body 2 is mountedmay be of any known type. Hence, as the valve body 2 is turned, fluids'of diiferent kinds, such as cold water, hot water,

and steam may be forced through the pipes 3. The details of theconnections for supplying the fluids to the pipes 3 require no furtherexplanation as machines based on this principle are already on themarket and are well known, and are described in my previously filedapplication Serial No. 249,172.

, Each radial pipe-3 is provided with a vertical pipe I8. Each said pipeI8 is provided with diametrically opposite slots 25 through which wateror steam can be forced to act upon the mouth portion of the can. Eachwashing head 26 is provided with a slot 21 which extends completelyaround the same. Each pipe I8 is connected to its respective pipe 3 by asuitable coupling, and each washing head 26 has a threaded connectionwith its corresponding pipe I8. Each pipe I8 is also provided with fourfins or wings I9, 20, 2I and 22. These wings are spaced apart equallyand two of said wings are substantially adjacent the longitudinal slots25. When the washing head 26 is screwed into position, the slot 21 ispreferably aligned with the slots 25.

I have shown the slots 25 and the slot 21 as being vertical, but itwould not be departing from my invention to incline one or more of saidslots. Each can support comprises a sprocket or gear I5 having a raisededge and an inner sleeve I5, by means of which each said support l5 canbe suitably mounted on .a corresponding pipe I8.

When the valve body 2 is turned, the respective in an outer sleeve 4which is mounted on a suitable bearing. Said sleeve 4 has a sprocket 5connected thereto and said sprocket 5 is connected by means of a chain 6to a sprocket! mounted on'the main drive of the machine. Said main drivecomprises a worm shaft M, a worm 29 and a worm wheel 30. This type ofdrive is merely illustrated by way of example, it being understood thatthis detail, as well as other details of the machine disclosed herein,can be varied or omitted without departing from the invention. Thesprocket I is provided with a boss 8 on which alink 9 is pivotallymounted. Said link 9 is pivotally connected to a second link Ilwhich is.turnably mounted on the shaft I. The'link III is provided with a pawlI] having the usual spring so that the index plate II is intermittentlyturned. .In this embodiment, the shaft I- to which the index plate H'-is connected, is

I turned one-eighth of a revolution for each complete revolution of thedrive sprocket "I. In the type specifically illustrated herein, I haveshown an intermittent drive for intermittently revolv- .I2 which isprovided with a chain It that passes The outer sleeve 4 is provided witha sprocket around the respectlve'sprockets II, which form n which ismoved by the spring 8 to 'to freely'turn'aroun'd the pipes It, sothat'each sprocket I I, together with the can placed there-- on, can befreely rotated about its own axis. An idler li'is provided fortightening the sprocket chain I4. This idler II is mounted on a leverthe chain it in tight condition. The sprocket chain I4 moves in the samedirection as the valve body 2. It is clear that the sprocket I2 and thesprockets I5 are continuously turned so that the It is also clear thatwhen the sprockets I5 are i being revolved around the central axis ofthe action of the device is to cause each can to turn twice, about itsown axis, while the shaft I is held stationary.

As shown in Fig. 3, the ratchet wheel .II' is turned one-eighth of arevolution while sprocket 'I .is turned a half revolution. During theremaining half revolution of sprocket 'I, ratchet wheel II remainsstationary. Since sprocket I drives sprocket 5, the sprockets I, 5, I2,and I5, can be designed so as to cause eachcan to turn twice around itsown axis while shaft I and ratchet wheel II are stationary. j A can isplaced upon a support I5, or is removed therefrom by a tflting movement.

.The fins I9, 20, 2i, and 22 are eflective to properly locate the canson their supports so that the washing head is aligned with the centralaxis-,of the can. may be of any desired size for this purpose. Forexample, while I have shown them as being spaced from the inner wall ofthe adjacent portion of the can, it is to be understood that thedrawings are not necessarily according .toscale, and said fins could bemade wider so as to accurately-center the can upon its support. It willbe noted that the central column P0 is mounted on the valve body 2, andthat partitions P aremounted upon the central column Pa. 1

When water under substantial pressure, such as a pressure not less than22 pounds per square inch, is supplied to a pipe 3, the water issuesfrom the slot 21 in planar fan-shaped form.

While of course the sheet of water has an initial thicknesscorresponding tothe width of the slot 21, it may be describedas planarbecause it moves outwardly in the form of a flat sheet which strikes theinner side wall surface of the can at two diametrically opposite points.Said sheet of water, defined by the raysR shown in Fig. 1, also strikesthe bottom of the inverted can. The sheet of water spreads laterallywhen it strikes the side wall surface of the can. It therefore spreadsin' opposite directions along horizontal lines. or planes'until thehorizontally moving sheets of water thus produced meet each other alonglines substantially midway between the. portions of the can which areinitially struckby said flat sheet of water. ,When the horizontallydeflected sheets of water thus meet, their the water drops out of thecan at these points. Heretofore, in interior of an inverted can withtheuse ofa very large volume ofzwater,

.the water tended to accumulate in the upperpart of the can so that thishindered the washing the supports for. the cans C. previously stated,the sleeves Il permit said sprockets l6 action, Likewise, when the largebody ofwater had to'flo'w out of the can,"it interfered with theproper'washing action of the incoming jet, body or sheet of water.However, according to the present invention, there is no interferencebetween water and the' outgoing water. Hat or'planar sheets of water arealso Thefins I, 20-, 2|, and 22- 'shaft I, that their speed ofrevolution is less than when the shaft I is held stationary. The

kinetic energy is largely or totally destroyed, and

causedto-imiaouto'f-the-slots lt soasto properly s of water which issuefrom the slots 2! spread invention is also broadly new.

. 40 provided for ejecting the cans from their holders I aoea'eea 3 washthe mouth portion of the can. The sheets and omissions could he madewithout departing from its spirit. out horizontally in the manner beforedescribed. v

This washing action is made more thorough by openingsin theinteriorthereof so as to permit the turning of the can while it is being subthewater to pass below said supports to a suit- .iected thereto. By turningthe can twice while the shaft l remains stationary, the thorough Thesedetails are notspeciflcally illustrated as It'will be noted that the cansupports II have able tank, compartment, drain, or the washing of eachand every portion thereof. is they are, well knownjn machines now on themarket. I

- While I have shown a complete mechanism, it

. is obvious that this contains numerous subcombinations orsub-mechanisms which could-be used independently of .the disclosedherein. While I'have'shown a sprocket and chain'drive in thedescriptionand I refer to the same in the claims, it is to be understood that thesprocket complete mechanism drive broadly includes anysimilar drive suchas a belt drive or the like, by means of which the 1 case a can is notupon a support. However, this is hot absolutely necessary because theaverage operator can be depended upon to. see that each pport receivesacan. circular path.

In addition to centering the can, the fins l9,- 1 claim: 20, 2|, and 22are useful when hotair is supplied A can W n v p in 1 annuto theinterior of the can through a pipe H. The lar- Suppor p d t h ld a canin inverted hot air is caused to substantially enter the-anv r i lposition, m ns a pted to rotate the gular-space' between a pair of saidfins and it passes out of the can through the angular space andsubstantially vertipal P p adapted to extend opposite thereto sothat'there is no interference to nd d iv w e i o t i io of the betweenthe inflowing air and the outflowing air can n aid-s pp said-pip 11 31 8subfl a'ntlal at the mouth of the can, In this respect the VerticalSlots m sw Said p p havin a which extends around the top thereof, theslots in can around its own vertical axis, a non rotatingnon-rotatingwashing head mounted thereon, said 1 Whenever I refer tocans in the claims, it is w in eed ing a substantially ve tic sl t to beunderstood that I wish to include recepodiment disclosed herein, thisclosed path is a ta l of ,11 kinds Likewise, the wash t the wall of thepipe being belowand substam can have any suitabledetergent dissolvedtherein, or it can have sand therein.

s As shown in F1g 7, to t means maybe 2. A method of washing an invertedcan which consists in turning the can around its own vertiupon ainverting dvl'ce 1 of any suitable .s cal axis while forcing into saidinvertedcan an In this embodiment the supports for the cans upwardlydirected and continuous d flat b dy turn in unison withan upper support'50 upon of water which moves upwardly so that'it strikes which c n oo'vr il ar u t lThe general the inner surface of the bottom of said' canand details of the mechanism for holding, washing which also moves inppositedirections with reand releasing'the can covers are shown in my het to theaxisof the can so that said body Oi previously filed'application, Serial 'No, 372,594, Water also strikes predeterminedportions of the Each of the can is h ld against, b i tipped innersurface of theivertical wall of said can, said from its uprightposition,-when water is forced d t i d p ons being u an a y d 50 againstits exterior, by means ofa yoke 52 which metrically opp sita'to eac ot ed od of ispivotally connected at 53 to the revolving porw ter being so-injected with s fl i nt fdree d tion of the-device. Each of these yokes52 is insuflleient volume so h e at r spreads provided with {pair 01'roller 54 which b t laterally in opposite directions from said prethecan .at the inner side thereof. Hence, when water. is forced againstthe'outside of the'can determined portions over the entire innersurface,

of the vertical wall of the can, the movement of with considerablepressure, as shown in Fig. 1, said'b dit f Wa e being limited 15045118 B-W the rollers 54 prevent the can from being tipped connected-to an armSlq, s'aid' arm 54a being I pivoted at 55' to the revolving portion ofthe machine. 7 Theexterior stationary casing is provided witha wheel 56pivoted thereto at W..- :As shown in Figs. 7-9, when a can reaches theposi'- tion in which it is to be ejected-from the device,

e the link 54a contacts with the 'wheel '56 land the further turning ofthe deviceforce's the upper end of the yoke 52 rea ardly, so that thecan is tipped-into the dotted linepositionindicated in Fi 7, so that itfallsuporrthe inverting dementioned movements.

' -3. In a can washing device, a water delivery pipe having a pair ofslots in its side wall, the outer wall of said pipe having projectingportions extending radiallftherefrom intermediate said slots. 4. In acan washing machine, a water delivery pipe having a pair of slots in theside wall thereof the outer wall. of said; pipe being provided with foursymmetrically disposed flns which are 10- catedbetween said slots, twoof said fins adjacent said slots. ,5. In -'a can washing machine, thecombination of a support adapted to hold acanfin invertedpo- .sition, afirst pipe adapted 'to deliver water into the. interior of said can, asecond pipe'adapted to deliver hotair into theinterior of said can, saidvflrstpipe having a plurality of projections extendingradiallydrom theouter wallithereof, said Y second pipe having its mouth intermediate apair of said projections, said projections being adapted to separate theincoming hot air from the outgoing hot air, said first pipe andprojections extending into the can when it is held on the sup- P rt. 4

6. A can washing machine comprising a rotatable valve body having pipesprojecting thereadapted to turn said carrier, means adapted to turn saidcan holders, means adapted to project water against the outer walls ofsaid cans while they are held in position on said holders, yokes pivotedtosaid carrier and having anti-friction means adapted to contact withsaid cans while they are mounted on said holders, and means adapted toactuate said yokes when they are adjacent a. predetermined portion ofthe machine to tip the cans off the holder.

8.,A canwashing machine comprising-a rotatable valve body having pipesprojecting therefrom, upstanding pipes which are connected to saidprojecting pipes, can supports comprising supporting sprockets which areturnably mounted on said upstanding pipes, a shaft on which said valvebody is mounted, a turnably mounted sleeve enclosing said shaft, a drivesprocket connected to said sleeve, a chain connecting said drive andmeans adapted to turn said shait and to turn said sleeve relative tosaid shaft.

IRA H. KENDALL.

sprocket to said sprockets oi the can supports,

